Erik's subs set new club record
Erik ten Hag's substitutions at Manchester United are continuing to have the desired impact, with our last five goals in all competitions scored by replacements coming on and delivering goals.
While Anthony Martial's double, the second from the penalty spot, was very much merely a consolation during the 6-3 defeat to Manchester City, the Frenchman was also on the scoresheet at Omonia Nicosia, a matter of seconds after entering the fray.
Marcus Rashford was a half-time introduction, in place of Jadon Sancho, and he netted the other two goals in the 3-2 Europa League triumph.
Man Utd's last 5 competitive goals have come via substitutes. ️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️
— The Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) October 6, 2022
This is a club record in the Premier League era, beating the previous record of four in a row from Feb 1999, when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored four as a sub in the 8-1 PL win over Nottm Forest. #MUFC
The Opta Analyst, on Twitter, suggested this was a new club record, considering data since 1992, of five consecutive strikes by substitutes, with the previous mark set by one man on his own - Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with his four-goal haul in the incredible 8-1 win at Nottingham Forest in February, 1999.
With five changes permitted in games this term, the ability to influence outcomes with substitutions is greater than ever, and something Ten Hag is well aware of.
"All the subs had a really good impact," he acknowledged on Thursday evening. "That's what I expect from players on the bench. Every sub has to be ready and tonight is just the best example you can get."
Rashford has now scored 20 times for the Reds as a substitute, and this was the 91st time he has come on during a game. Martial has 15 goals from 75 sub appearances.
Both current strikers are still a long way off the leader in this field, the aforementioned Solskjaer, who hit 29 after coming on 120 times during the Sir Alex Ferguson era. Mexican legend Javier Hernandez is another high-scoring sub, with 17 strikes for the Reds.
Rashford's nine Europa League strikes
Marcus Rashford has scored more Europa League goals than any other Red, past or present...
It's Everton up next for the Reds at Goodison Park, with kick-off at 19:00 BST this evening.
The Toffees' home was the scene of a famous substitute strike for United, when Chris Eagles went through to net in a dramatic 4-2 win that took us much closer to the Premier League title in 2006/07, supplying the clincher soon after entering the fray.
Martial came on to score in our last win at Goodison, a 2-0 League Cup triumph in late 2020, and Edinson Cavani did likewise in our league victory there that season, providing an injury-time third in a 3-1 victory.